Jeff Nelson (musician)

Jeff Nelson
Born	1962 (age 61–62) South Africa
Genres	Hardcore punk
Occupations	Musician, graphic designer
Instruments	Drums
Formerly of	Minor Threat

Jeff Nelson (born 1962 in South Africa) is an American musician, graphic designer, and record-label owner. He is best known as the drummer for the Washington, D.C. hardcore punk band Minor Threat.^[1]

Biography

Nelson met Ian MacKaye in high school and the two saw their first punk rock show, The Cramps, together.^[2] Soon after, they formed their first band, The Slinkees.^[2] After playing one show, a lineup change caused them to rename the band The Teen Idles.^[2]

He also co-founded the independent record label Dischord Records along with MacKaye in 1980,^[1] whose first record was the Teen Idles.^[3] They continue to run Dischord together. The duo also comprised the projects Skewbald/Grand Union and Egg Hunt; both bands recorded only one single.

Nelson also runs the record label Adult Swim Records (distributed by Dischord) and Pedestrian Press, as well as being a political activist.^[4] Nelson collects Jeep Wagoneers and resides in Toledo, Ohio.^[5] He spearheaded and effort in 2008 to successfully save Toledo's Scott High School from demolition.^[4][6]

Discography

Minor Threat

Original material

• Minor Threat (EP, 1981)
• In My Eyes (EP, 1981)
• Out of Step (studio album, 1983)
• Salad Days (EP, 1985)

Compilation albums

• Minor Threat (1984)
• Complete Discography (1989)
• First Demo Tape (2003)

Compilation appearances

• Flex Your Head (1982) – "Stand Up", "12XU"
• Dischord 1981: The Year in Seven Inches (1995) contains the first two EPs
• 20 Years of Dischord (2002) – "Screaming at a Wall", "Straight Edge" (live), "Understand", "Asshole Dub"

References

1. Gordon, Alex (September 30, 2019). "Jeff Nelson, co-founder of Dischord Records and drummer of Minor Threat, talks D.C. punk of the 1980s and new documentary Punk the Capital". Pittsburgh City Paper. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
2. Azerrad, Michael (2001). Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes From the American Indie Underground 1981–1991. USA: Little Brown. pp. 122–123. ISBN 978-0-316-78753-6.
3. Johnson, Christopher (August 24, 2005). "A New Generation of Punk at Dischord Records". NPR. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
4. Webber, Jason (December 3, 2019). "Minor Threats and Jeep Thrills". Toledo City Paper. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
5. Giammarise, Kat (March 5, 2009). "Jeff Nelson on Toledo". Rustwire.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
6. Joyce III, James (November 6, 2008). "Scott High School work back on track". Toledo Blade. Retrieved November 14, 2024.

Bibliography

• Blush, Steven; Petros, George (2001). George Petros (ed.). American Hardcore: A Tribal History. Feral House. ISBN 978-0-922915-71-2.
• Cogan, Brian; Spheeris, Penelope (2008). The Encyclopedia of Punk. Sterling. ISBN 978-1-4027-5960-4.

External links

• Dischord Records
• Adult Swim Records